THE IDES OF MARCH 2020
Aloha;
Our names are usually given to us when we are born. For each name bestows given attributes on the people who get them. As we grow and learn, we link this name to ourselves. While we explore the world and understand how we fit in it. Thus our name becomes part of us. When we hear this name, we accept that people are talking to us. Or they are talking about us. Or referring to us in some way. Since our names represent us, and what we are, it is our property.
Plus, our names are a part of our identity, in that they tell others how we are known. And it is the part of our identity we are most likely to share freely. For it usually indicates how we want to be known. And by sharing our names, we improve our chances of being known. Since we live in societies, we each must have a distinct name. Because our names describe, and distinguish us, from other people.
So our relationship with the people around us starts with knowing who is talking to us. Which makes our names even more important. And when we accept a name, it becomes part of what we understand ourselves to be. It is how we represent ourselves to the world. As well as how we want other people to know who we are. So our names identify us, on a planet that is crowded with humans.
Others reference our identity by our name. So our names are important because that is how they know us. It is reference for how to relate to us. It is also a statement of how we intend to relate to them. As we show them who we are, and how we want to be known. Although we have no guarantee they will respect or value we have for our names. Since people use names to do more than identify us.
Some organizations use our names as information to help classify and sort people in society. But over time they may do more. As they are able to add information they gather about us to our names. A picture; to show the face that goes with the name. An address; to tell where that face may be found. Or a medical record; to assess whether that name is a safe hire or medical risk. Or whether this name has financial issues, and is a credit risk.
Along with other things they attach to our names. Such as affiliation, gender, ethnic groups or race. Which then puts these organizations in a position to assign us a new name; or label. And assign value to those labels. In some respects our names are currency. They can be bought, sold, or stolen. Merchants bribe us, or make payments outright for information about our identities. They clearly see value in using our names. Do we?
Respectfully Yours,
J. A. Stubbs, Editor-In-Chief
Forgotten Lore Publishing, llc